MOMS SCORING BIG AT WIMBLEDON

From Serena Williams’ tearful decision to stop breast- feeding to Victoria Azarenka’s ( pictured) guilt over the time she spends away from her baby, life isn’t all fun and games for Wimbledon’s mothers.

Few female players have succeeded at Grand Slam level after becoming mothers.

Belgium’s Kim Clijsters returned to win the 2009 US Open, while Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong Cawley won majors after giving birth in an era when the physical demands on players were less intense.

But Williams, 36, and her fellow mothers are doing their best to cope with the stresses of parenthood as they bid to reverse that trend at Wimbledon this week.

Williams is back at Wimbledon for the first time since giving birth to Alexis Olympia in September.

Serena’s victory was one of four by mothers in the singles on Monday, with former Wimbledon runner- up Vera Zvonareva hoping to join the club when she plays on Tuesday. Germany’s Tatjana Maria enjoyed the most surprising success with a 7- 6, 4- 6, 6- 1 victory over fifth seed Elina Svitolina to the delight of her four- yearold Charlotte.

There were also wins for former world number one Azarenka, the Belarusian beating Ekaterina Alexandrova 7- 6, 63, while Russian Evgeniya Rodina defeated Antonia Lottner 3- 6, 7- 5, 64.

Azarenka’s one- year- old son Leo travels with her on the tour amid a stressful custody battle that forced her to step away from the sport last year.

The former world number one admits every moment she spends away from Leo is difficult, while juggling her tennis schedule with the constant demands of parenthood is a never- ending battle.